Integrative group gets off to a successful start

In early February, ten people with disabilities started work in the Production department at Solarlux’s site in Melle, Germany. The aim of this scheme was to integrate them into the primary labour market, give them opportunities for the future and, if possible, to establish employment relationships that will see them stay at the company for many years to come. Now, Osnabrücker Werkstätten and Solarlux look back and take stock of what has been a successful start to their partnership. 

It’s been about six weeks, and the ten staff from Osnabrücker Werkstätten have been really pitching in since being appointed to the Assembly and Logistics teams at Solarlux in Melle, north-west Germany. The Osnabrückers – ten men aged between 21 and 58 – are still employed by Heilpädagogische Hilfe Osnabrück, an organisation that aids with remedial education in the area, but now work directly at the Solarlux Campus on jobs such as safely packing products and assembling accessories.

The whole operation is part of a joint work group launched by Osnabrücker Werkstätten and Solarlux on 1 February this year. “Together, we hope to be able to fully integrate a group of Osnabrücker Werkstätten employees and give them permanent jobs here at Solarlux,” says Klaus Roloff, Solarlux’s Commercial Director. 

In order to earn such a contract, the Osnabrücker Werkstätten employees must first apply for a position in the integrative work group. Here, they will be given the opportunity to get to know every aspect of the workplace before deciding whether or not they want to keep working for Solarlux. “So far, all of our new colleagues have decided to stay at Solarlux,” says Thomas Bungert, Solarlux’s Project Coordinator for the workgroup. The reasons for this are simple, as Bungert explains: “What we’re seeing is that our new staff start to identify with the company very quickly. They see themselves and their work as part of Solarlux. That’s a huge motivation for them – and that’s exactly what we’re hoping to achieve with this programme.” 

It is important to ensure that this sense of inclusion also extends beyond the work itself, and this can be seen in the way that the Osnabrücker Werkstätten colleagues dine with the rest of the workforce in the on-site canteen and take part in other company events. Two specialists from Osnabrücker Werkstätten have been appointed as liaisons to the workgroup, and help the new staff in their daily work lives at Solarlux. There is also a weekly feedback session to discuss work processes and other topics.

“The partnership has got off to an amazing start,” enthuses Rolf Holtgreve, Head of Production at Osnabrücker Werkstätten, “and we’re looking forward to being able to integrate more staff with disabilities into the Solarlux family soon.”